Big Moon took a BSA C-15 in hand, and created a great little runabout custom. This is not a bike you’d probably want to take on a cross country trip, but for what it is, she’s just about perfect. Solo trips to the country are what she’s made for, where speed is secondary to just enjoying the open road.
Style is a very personal thing. That which you find attractive may repulse others, and so it goes with motorcycles. We’ve got bobbers, choppers, cafe racers, sportbikes, tourers, and on and on. So many niches, each with it’s own distinct personality. This Kawasaki 250TR from Big Moon straddles the line between bobber and chopper, and contains all the elements of those style that annoy me, such as…
Really high handlebars? Check.
Large gap between tank and engine? Check.
Gas tank that’s too small? Check.
Large empty space between the engine and steering head? Check.
All those negatives, in my opinion, yet here it is, featured on the blog. What the hell is up with that, you ask? I wish I had the answer, but I don’t. If I had to wager a guess, I think the motor is the factor that makes it appealing. Bikes like this are usually endowed with some Milwaukee V-Twin power, but this one uses a measly 250 single. Proportionally, it seems to work better, for me at least. All the factors I listed above are actually in balance on this build, and make for something I can sink my teeth into. She could take up residence in my garage any time!
….but those handlebars would have to go.
Big Moon continues to impress with an ability to do multiple styles well. This Yamaha TX650 bobber looks great, and is a fine balance of style and function. The seat is very unique, though I wish Big Moon would choose better mirrors for their builds. My favorite touch is the tank, just gorgeous!
The T140 Bonneville holds a special place in many an enthusiast’s heart. While I have no real special attachment to the bikes, this Bonnie from Big Moon does punch all my happy buttons for custom builds! Great use and balance of color, nicely done seat with snaps that just screams old-school, and a stance that’s bad ass. Sho doesn’t look like a 750cc machine, especially with that tiny headlight, and I’m sure she’s a blast to ride. Big Moon just keeps on impressing me the deeper I dig into their builds!
A lot of the times a Kawasaki Zephyr is taken in hand for a custom make over, it’s limited to small cosmetic changes. Not so with this ZR750 from Big Moon. There’s a wonderful custom tank and tail, with a smaller headlight to finish up the look. It’s a great look, and Big Moon really seems to like those low-mounted turn signals. She’s a good, solid build, though I would have dropped the stock mirror for something better!
Big Moon
Today’s offering from Big Moon is this tastefully done Harley Sportser 1200 in a cafe racer style. Called “Little Bastrd”, it’s a nice take on caffeinating a Hawg, and the overall black motif is great. It’s nice that Big Moon showed enough restraint to not color the wheels black as well, it keeps the bike from looking too heavy. As always, it’s nice to see a Harley that breaks away from their traditional role as cruisers!
We’re back with Big Moon, and here’s a bright red rocket KZ750. Yeah, I’m a sucker for red, and a Kawasaki fan too, but there’s enough here for anyone to like. Rearsets, a perfect seat/tail combination, and great balance of color, although the front wheel needs to be black like the rear. Reminds me of my Zephyr 550!
The custom motorcycle scene in Japan is it’s own brew of style and innovation, and you can see it’s influence in many of the American builds of the last few years. Heck, the term bratstyle is directly lifted from a Japanese builder. Big Moon is another of the plethora of awesome shops putting out solid, professional builds. This week I’ll be highlighting this shop, starting with this Yamaha XS650 scrambler.
The scrambler style is something I have trouble appreciating, and many times people exaggerate the look beyond it’s humble origins, but not this one. The pipes are high for more ground clearance, but too much. The lime green tank is, well, perfection, and the rest of the bike is so clean and balanced. Everything gels so well, and beats the crap out of my preconceived notions of scramblers. I love it!
